Have you ever had a cracked windshield? That small chip or crack in a windshield that, when left unattended, will grow into something more noticeable and debilitating under harsh conditions or stress.
The last one I ignored ended up costing me $1,000 compared to the $100 if I had fixed it right away — a 10X difference.
The housing market today is quickly becoming the $1,000 fix. It’s happening to some agents, team leaders, office or regional leaders and owners today. We are watching a crack grow and spread across our collective windshield. And if you’re not diligent and attentive, that little crack spreads.
If you are a company owner, regional leader, manager or team leader — these manifest themselves as poorly designed policies, an unresolved conflict with brokerage staff, a CRM that’s outdated or a lack of administrative support.
If you are an agent — the crack appears as not knowing where your next new appointment is coming from or not having the systems in place to service the existing business while continuing to generate new business.
I’m not sure of your aspirations, yet I suspect for many of you it’s more financial freedom through a consistent business, better health, stronger relationships and improved connections with your community. Let’s face it, so many times when you are about to take a step toward those dreams, the onslaught of cracks across the windshield begins. The theme of these cracks can often be traced back to the same root, “I don’t feel like it.”
The next time cracks are appearing in your plan or you ‘don’t feel like’ taking actionable steps against them, consider the following two steps to improve your outlook and repair the cracks in your business.
Step 1: Accept your emotional level, then redirect
Whatever you are disappointed or frustrated by in your business, give yourself permission to feel that way. Instead of denying the reality of your frustrations, acknowledge them. Meditate on these frustrations for a moment and then make an active decision to regroup. You cannot fix the cracks in the windshield before you acknowledge them.
Accept, reflect then redirect.
Step 2: Take action toward your intention
Instead of listening to “I don’t feel like it” or getting overwhelmed by the cracks in the windshield, put yourself in a position to take action on a solution. To overcome your feelings and move towards your dreams you must take action. In business and in life, you state your goals and plot your course to reach them. There will be many days when you don’t feel like doing the work when you feel like ignoring the $100 crack until it is a $1,000 crack. Fix it anyway. “Feeling like it” is not a prerequisite for action.
The winners are the doers.
Mark Johnson is the co-founder of CoRecruit Systems and business partner in Third Pool Recruiting Systems, an author, speaker and thought leader in the real estate space.